Thomas Parham to head CSU Dominguez Hills

It is with great pride that I announce that Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Thomas A. Parham has been selected as the next president of California State University, Dominguez Hills. In making the selection, the CSU Board of Trustees cited his exceptional history of working with students from diverse backgrounds and his unwavering commitment to student achievement.

Dr. Parham, who received his bachelor’s degree in social ecology from UCI, has been a mainstay of our campus for 33 years, influencing generations of students to make the most of every opportunity and achieve to their potential. Known across campus as “Dr. P.,” he has served as vice chancellor for student affairs since 2011. Prior to that he served as assistant vice chancellor for counseling and health services, director of the Counseling Center and director of the Career and Life Planning Center, among other positions. An adjunct member of the UCI faculty, he is a nationally-known psychologist, author of six books and more than 45 journal articles and book chapters. Among his many honors, he is past president of the National Association of Black Psychologists and past president of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.

As vice chancellor for student affairs, Dr. Parham has been a fierce advocate for our students, working tirelessly to make their experience on campus a compelling part of their education. I shall miss his wise counsel, steady hand, and good humor.

Dr. Parham joins a campus that is a vital educational, economic and cultural resource for the entire South Bay. Its diverse demographics reflect the communities it serves and its students gain knowledge and skills that prepare them for success. I have every confidence that under Dr. Parham’s leadership, CSU Dominguez Hills will build on its achievements and advance to the next level as one of the premier teaching universities of our state and our region.

Dr. Parham will leave us at the end of this academic year to assume his new role. He takes with him our congratulations and best wishes, and he leaves an enduring legacy of student success. Later this spring there will be a campus-wide celebration of Dr. Parham’s distinguished service. We will conduct a national search to find our next vice chancellor for student affairs.

Fiat Lux,

Chancellor Howard Gillman